My Raider has always been more difficult to turn compared to gramps '88, but never that big a deal. It has become worse to the point where now that its cold it feels as though there is zero assistance at low speeds. Of course while moving manual probably feels like power anyways. It seems the pump is making some noise and it is full of fluid. You can't hear it unless you pop the hood. The pulley also has what I would consider a lot of play assuming there should be no play at all. It will move in/out of the housing an 1/8" or so. Typical signs of a bad pump? The fluid is also red, doesn't look or smell burned.

what's the sound like? Recently mine started making a grinding/whining sound while driving and worse while turning and it just turned out it was out of fluid and everything worked great when I topped it off.

Maybe you have have an air bubble in it? Someone else can probably explain how to bleed the system

Anyone have a pump laying around? I'll go ahead and put some fluid in it just in case, but I don't think I'll be that lucky. It is a hair above the MIN level right now and feels like 0 assistance.

It is normal for the P/S pump to move in and out as much as 3/16" or more

Ok so this thing definately has enough fluid in it and there does not look to be any leaks. Would this be an obvious pump issue or could it be the box? I see a grease fitting on the box that I haven't messed with since I've had the truck. Could it be dry and binding or should I go ahead and source a pump? Manual steering is annoying, need to figure this out kinda quick <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

That is not a grease fitting, it is a bleeder screw like a brake bleeder.
I'd be looking for another pump and give it a try.

I'd assume bad pump with that much shaft movement. Think they are rebuildable...

Looks like I can get a used one around $50 locally. Unless someone here has one, I'll probably go that route. Anything I need to know as far as bleeding the system after the swap? I read something about GM cars which basically said to move the steering (off the ground and without engine running) back and forth something like 30 times and refill as necessary.

I'll look into the rebuild thing too.